Prior Written Notice: What Parents Need to Know
Prior Written Notice, or PWN, is one of the procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Schools must provide parents with written notice when they propose or refuse to initiate or change a child's identification, evaluation, educational placement, or provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
PWN Is Not Just for When the School Says Yes
Prior Written Notice is required when a school proposes an action or refuses an action.
For example, you may ask the IEP team to:
Increase speech or occupational therapy
Add an accommodation
Conduct an evaluation
Consider a different placement
Add behavioral supports
Provide a 1:1 paraprofessional
Change a service or support
If the school refuses a request related to your child's identification, evaluation, placement, or FAPE, PWN should explain the decision. The school should not simply say, “No,” without providing an explanation.
What Should PWN Include?
Under IDEA, Prior Written Notice should explain:
What the school is proposing or refusing to do
Why the school is proposing or refusing the action
What evaluations, assessments, records, or reports were used
What other options were considered and why they were rejected
Other factors relevant to the decision
Information about your procedural safeguards
Resources you can contact for help understanding your rights
This information helps parents understand how the school reached its decision.
What If the Team Wants to “Table” Your Request?
Sometimes a team does not say “no” but instead wants to “table” a request until more information is available. However, tabling a request can sometimes have the same practical effect as a refusal, especially when there is no clear plan for revisiting it.
You may want to ask:
What information is needed?
Who will gather it?
When will the team revisit the request?
What will happen in the meantime?
Putting these details in writing can help make sure the request does not simply get forgotten.
Parents Are Members of the IEP Team
Parents are equal members of the IEP team. You can share concerns, provide information, ask questions, and make requests based on what you believe your child needs.
The school does not have to agree with every request. Disagreements can happen, but parents have the right to understand the reasoning behind important decisions about their child's education.
Use PWN to Create a Clear Record
One of the benefits of Prior Written Notice is that it creates documentation. Instead of leaving a meeting with a verbal “no,” you have a written explanation of the school's decision and the information used to make it.
If you make a request and the team does not agree, you can ask:
“Is the team refusing this request? If so, I would like Prior Written Notice explaining the decision.”
You can also ask:
“What information or data is the team using to make this decision?”
These questions can help create a clear record of what was requested, what the school decided, and why.
Remember: PWN Is a Parent Protection
Prior Written Notice is more than another piece of paperwork. It helps parents understand important decisions being made about their child's education and ensures those decisions are explained in writing.
If you disagree with a school decision, you can ask questions, document your concerns, and request the information you are entitled to receive.
Sometimes a simple question can make a big difference:
“Can you please explain that decision in Prior Written Notice?”
Understanding your rights can help you feel more prepared and confident as an equal member of your child's IEP team.
